Advertise on podcast: Devils Rink Report with James Nichols

The New Jersey Devils wrapped up their home stand prior to their west road trip with a 3-1 victory over the Kings. Join Daniel Amoia after the final horn to hear everything he has to say about the lines, the goaltending, the special teams, and much more. Drop your takes in the chat 😈 Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils traded for Connor Hellebuyck. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now breaks down the full deal: Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, the rights to Alexander Command and two picks go to Winnipeg, and Sunny Mehta keeps every first-round pick. We get into the A-minus grade, the cap math with no retained salary, when Hellebuyck could debut (Oct. 30 at Vegas or Nov. 3 vs. Edmonton?), Remi Poirier vs. Dallas, the Taylor Hall trade tree, and what this means for Quinn Hughes and Dylan Larkin. 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell. Devils Postgame Live streams after every Devils game. 🎧 Listen to Devils Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and every podcast app. 📰 Devils coverage every day: https://newjerseyhockeynow.com (https://newjerseyhockeynow.com/) ⭐ NJHN+ exclusives with James and Daniel Amoia: https://plus.newjerseyhockeynow.com (https://plus.newjerseyhockeynow.com/) ($4.49/mo or $39.99/yr, 7-day free trial) CHAPTERS 0:00 Pre-show 2:00 Connor Hellebuyck is a Devil 4:00 The trade: Mercer, Command, Daws, Bjugstad 6:00 Sunny Mehta keeps all his first-round picks 7:00 Why Dawson Mercer was expendable 8:30 What losing Alexander Command really means 10:30 No retained salary: the cap math 12:00 Hellebuyck fixes the Devils' biggest weakness 13:30 Sunny Mehta the poker player 14:30 Trade grade: A-minus 15:00 When will Hellebuyck be ready? 17:00 An "Infinity Gauntlet" Stanley Cup move 19:30 Chat: is Command a big loss? Yegorov stays 21:00 Yegorov and Hellebuyck long term 24:00 The Taylor Hall trade tree 25:00 How I handle trade rumors 27:30 Debut date: Oct. 30 at Vegas or Nov. 3 vs. Edmonton? 29:30 Did Lombardi make Mercer expendable? New lines 33:00 Jets fan: can Hellebuyck win in the playoffs? 36:30 Is age 33 a concern? 38:30 The Bobrovsky blueprint 40:30 Should Remy Poirier start in Dallas? 43:30 Was there a third team in the deal? 46:00 Are the Devils "boring"? 51:30 Are the Devils Stanley Cup contenders now? 55:30 Can they still get Larkin? Mantha, Dillon, Glass 58:00 How the Barrett Hayden offer sheet blocked Utah 1:00:00 Quinn Hughes and Dougie Hamilton's future 1:04:30 Does Hellebuyck help land Quinn Hughes? 1:09:30 Will Brenden Dillon get moved? 1:12:30 Can this team survive the playoffs? 1:16:00 Are the Devils too small? 1:17:00 Hellebuyck's new mask 1:18:30 The Wild's reaction 1:20:30 What to watch Saturday vs. the Kings 1:23:30 Cap space and forward depth 1:27:00 Can both teams win this trade? 1:29:00 Would Larkin fit? The Carolina-style game 1:34:00 Sabres fans react 1:35:30 Wrap-up #NJDevils #Hellebuyck #NHLTrade

The Devils beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 at Prudential Center to move to 6-4. Arseny Gritsyuk scored again, Nico Hischier's power-play goal held up as the winner and Nico Daws stopped 16 of 17 shots. James Nichols and Daniel Amoia break down Luke Hughes' best defensive game of the season and Sheldon Keefe's "one of the best defenders in the league" quote. They also get into why Keefe still wants more from Gritsyuk, Connor Brown's impact since returning and your questions from the chat. CHAPTERS 0:00 Show start 1:45 Devils beat Ducks 4-1: instant reaction 2:48 Player of the game: Luke Hughes & Keefe's big quote 5:18 Gritsyuk scores off Bratt's setup, but Keefe wants more 8:26 Keefe: "Game 10 of 84," consistency is the test 10:29 Ducks' second-period push & Nico Daws' 16 saves 13:39 Connor Brown's return, the penalty kill & Amadeus Lombardi 17:36 Chances finally turning into goals, under 30 shots 19:36 Chat: Why can't the Devils play a full 60? 21:28 Expected goals vs. finishing: Devils lead the NHL in xG% 25:15 Luke Evangelista's fit with Hischier & Meier, Sunny Mehta's eye 27:11 Game score: Jack Hughes, Bratt & Gritsyuk lead the way 29:05 Is Nico Hischier hurt? Bratt wrist update & Daws poll 32:04 Scoring depth, Mantha's goal & why scoring first matters 35:30 Is sitting Amadeus Lombardi the right call?38:04 Winning without Jack Hughes & Bratt at full speed 40:17 Why Keefe wasn't happy with Gritsyuk & his new tone on this team 46:18 Evan Rodrigues' checking line by the numbers 48:22 Good team to great team: consistency, special teams, goaltending 51:44 Gritsyuk fan club & the Devils' low preseason expectations 53:55 Wrap-up & Kings on Saturday Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a Devils Postgame Live: https://www.youtube.com/@DevilsRinkReport?sub_confirmation=1 🎧 Listen to Devils Rink Report on Apple Podcasts and Spotify ⭐ Get NJHN+ for $4.49/month or $39.99/year with a 7-day free trial: https://plus.newjerseyhockeynow.com 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 at Prudential Center on Tuesday, Oct. 20, outshooting Colorado 41-34 behind goals from Luke Evangelista, Declan Chisholm, Arseny Gritsyuk and Jesper Boqvist. James Nichols and Daniel Amoia break down Gritsyuk's highlight-reel goal through Cale Makar, Connor Brown and Evangelista's return, Jake Allen's 31 saves, the late Avs push that Sheldon Keefe didn't like, Dylan Larkin trade talk, Rémi Poirier and Brenden Dillon. 0:00 Intro 1:17 Player of the game: Arseny Gritsyuk's goal 4:16 Devils outshoot Colorado again 6:51 Connor Brown and Luke Evangelista return, Devils depth 10:55 Jake Allen's big saves and the goaltending bounce-back 14:19 "Not the same old Devils" 15:58 Depth scoring and Timo Meier's eight shots 18:57 Could Dylan Larkin fit with the Devils? 23:54 Does Gritsyuk stay with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt? 24:43 The late Avalanche push and Makar's setup 27:02 Penalty kill and staying out of the box 31:47 Rémi Poirier and the Devils goalie situation 40:35 Keefe on the final five minutes 43:28 What would a Larkin trade cost? 48:25 Nico Hischier's line and Timo Meier 52:07 Brenden Dillon's no-trade clause 56:24 Is Gritsyuk the greatest Russian-born player? Next: Devils vs. Anaheim Ducks, Thu Oct 22, 7 PM ET. Devils Postgame Live follows. Drop your take in the chat 😈 Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://linktr.ee/devilsrinkreport 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com NJHN+: $4.49/month or $39.99/year, 7-day free trial at plus.newjerseyhockeynow.com

Is it a Devils goalie problem, or a problem in front of the goalies? And is Connor Hellebuyck the fix?Keith Kavanaugh of PuckPedia and The Devils Edge joins James Nichols on Devils Rink Report to sort it out. The New Jersey Devils are 4-4-0 and have outshot every opponent so far, 280-200, while Jake Allen (.876) and Nico Daws (.857) have struggled in net. Keith walks through the goals against in Washington, explains why Rémi Poirier isn't getting a look, and says why he doesn't see Sunny Mehta's front office spending big in goal, in cap space or in trade assets, with the Devils at $77,077 in cap space and Hellebuyck's suspension ending Fri Oct 23. James and Keith also get into the Devils' missing second layer of offense, the power play, Connor Brown's return and the roster crunch at 23, and whether Sheldon Keefe's seat is warming up eight games in. Then James goes solo: a Devils vs. Colorado Avalanche preview (Tue Oct 20, 7 PM ET, Prudential Center), Elliotte Friedman's report on Brenden Dillon's no-trade clause, the Utica Comets' start, Timo Meier's first goal, and Arseny Gritsyuk's fit with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. 0:00 Keith Kavanaugh joins Devils Rink Report 0:52 Devils goalie problem or defense problem? 8:51 Why Rémi Poirier isn't playing 12:26 Connor Hellebuyck: can the Devils afford him? 15:01 A Hellebuyck trade package for Winnipeg? 17:02 Outshooting everyone, still .500 21:00 The missing second layer of offense 22:29 Connor Brown's return and the roster crunch 25:17 Is Sheldon Keefe on the hot seat? 30:23 Avalanche preview: MacKinnon, Makar, Wedgewood 33:58 Friedman report: Brenden Dillon's no-trade 38:52 Utica Comets and prospect update 40:44 Timo Meier, Gritsyuk and the Devils blue line Our guest: Keith Kavanaugh ✅ X: https://x.com/KeithKavJr 📺 The Devils Edge with Keith and former Devils captain Bryce Salvador: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDevilsEdge 🎧 The Devils Edge podcast: https://thedevilsedge.podbean.com 📊 PuckPedia (The PuckPedia Hockey Show and PuckPedia Cap Central): https://puckpedia.com 🔔 Subscribe to Devils Rink Report: https://www.youtube.com/@DevilsRinkReport?sub_confirmation=1 🔴 James Nichols and Daniel Amoia go live on Devils Postgame Live right after Devils vs. Avalanche on Tue Oct 20. Turn on notifications so you get the alert. 🎧 Listen to Devils Rink Report as a podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/devils-rink-report-with-james-nichols/id1894128244 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r7ZF4T5zGTel6r5MdIUzAAll links: https://linktr.ee/devilsrinkreport ⭐ Listening on Apple? A rating helps other Devils fans find the show. 📰 Go deeper with NJHN+: $4.49 a month or $39.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial: https://plus.newjerseyhockeynow.com Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨Check out our live episodes and be sure to participate in the chat🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils dropped a 4-2 Saturday matinee to the Washington Capitals, as Washington answered with four straight goals two days after the Devils' 7-goal win over the Rangers. Daniel Amoia goes LIVE to break down what went wrong, Ryan Leonard's highlight-reel goal, special teams, goaltending, lines, and what's next for the Devils. Drop your take in the chat 😈 00:00 Cold open 00:33 Show open: Daniel Amoia flying solo 02:28 Player of the Game: Arseny Gritsyuk 04:43 The real problem: defense 06:08 Allen or the D? Both 08:45 Mailbag: ride the hot goalie? 11:15 Hamilton–Siegenthaler: stats vs. breakdowns 15:05 No cohesiveness, no finishing 16:28 Timeout? Coaching change? Too early 20:21 Allen vs. Daws debate 24:15 Line notes & a 4-4 reality check Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils explode for 7 goals and dominate the New York Rangers at Prudential Center. Nico Hischier and the top group finally break out in a Hudson rivalry statement win. Join James Nichols and Daniel Amoia as they break down the goals, key plays, special teams, goaltending, lines, and what's next for the Devils. 00:00 Intro 00:36 Devils trample the Rangers 02:08 Player of the game: Luke Hughes 09:08 Chasing Garand: dirty-area goals 11:54 Four lines, four goals 13:58 Failed 5-on-3 & the turning point 18:32 Hughes brothers own the Rangers 25:11 Analytics: best start since 2022-23? 30:25 Rust, rhythm & the Washington test 39:02 Who sits when Brown & Evangelista return? 47:10 Rodriguez's PK play & the veterans 52:55 Momentum swing & wrap-up Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils are on a quick turnaround on Frozen Frenzy night, playing the second of a back-to-back in Detroit against the Red Wings. With Jake Allen manning the crease, they look to rebound after a poor showing on Monday night at home. Join James Nichols and Daniel Amoia as they dissect the goals, the key plays, special teams, goaltending, lines, and what’s next for the Devils. Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils failed to carry the momentum from Saturday's victory into Monday, falling to the red-hot Ottawa Senators 4-1. An even score after period 1, the Devils collapsed in the 2nd period and allowed the next three goals to seal their fate. They must rebound fast with an early 6 pm start on Tuesday in Detroit. James Nichols and Daniel Amoia recap this ugly loss and what it means going forward. Was Nico Daws the problem? Is Sheldon Keefe's seat getting hot? What's wrong with the forward lines? They answer all that plus your comments from the chat. Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

The New Jersey Devils snapped their skid with a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on October 10, 2026 at Prudential Center. Nico Hischier scored twice (including his 200th career goal) and added an assist, Jesper Bratt and Jesper Boqvist also scored, and Jack Hughes had two assists. Jake Allen made 20 saves in his 500th career game as the Devils went 3-for-4 on the power play. James Nichols and Daniel Amoia break down the key plays, special teams, goaltending, lines, and what’s next for the Devils. Drop your take in the chat 😈 Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨 Check out our live episodes and jump in the chat 🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

James Nichols and Daniel Amoia are live from Prudential Center after the Devils fall 5-3 to the Utah Mammoth. No bounce-back after the 6-0 on Long Island. The Devils are 1-2, the penalty box decided it, and the top line still isn’t clicking. Evangelista scores twice. Luke Hughes owns a turnover. The power play only cashes a 5-on-3. Siegenthaler leaves hurt. Pesce–Chisholm gets buried. Too early to fire Keefe, not too early to worry. Drop your takes in the comments Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:32 5-3 loss, no bounce-back 1:51 Penalty 10 seconds in 3:07 Hughes and Bratt quiet, lines shuffled 4:43 Defensive lapses, Luke’s turnover 8:16 Evangelista’s two goals 9:38 Power play still stalled 12:48 Process vs. finishing, Siegenthaler hurt 20:18 Third pair buried 23:06 Is Keefe on the hot seat? 26:50 Boqvist upgrades the fourth line 28:47 Not a goalie problem yet 34:44 Ticket giveaway 36:31 Expectations vs. parity 42:25 Puck-moving, not grit 46:25 Too many playmakers on the PP 49:10 Could a run still happen? 51:44 Hellebuyck doesn’t fix this 55:08 Luke’s elite moments and giveaways 56:49 Where Brown fits 57:36 Carolina contrast, next up Vancouver Follow us: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @Daniel_Amoia ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨Check out our live episodes and be sure to participate in the chat🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com New Jersey Devils, Utah Mammoth, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Luke Hughes, Luke Evangelista, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Sheldon Keefe, Jake Allen, Nico Daws, Prudential Center, NHL #Devils #NHL #hockey

The New Jersey Devils opened the season with a 3-2 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center on October 1, 2026. Jack Hughes scored the winner with 1:37 left in overtime, finishing a give-and-go with Jesper Bratt after taking the puck off Travis Sanheim. Dougie Hamilton tied it unassisted in the second, and Luke Hughes (from Luke Evangelista) forced overtime at 9:44 of the third. Flyers goals: Rasmus Ristolainen (Sanheim, Konecny) in the first, Travis Sanheim (Couturier) early in the third. Joseph Woll stopped 41 of 44. Jake Allen made 23 saves. Devils outshot Philadelphia 44-25. New Jersey is 1-0-0; the Flyers are 0-1-1 after a 7-0 home loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Full postgame reaction and breakdown from Devils Rink Report. 0:00 Welcome and Jack's stick toss 0:49 Shot volume and the process 2:29 Do they need a finisher? 4:51 Dougie Hamilton and secondary chances 6:39 Luke Hughes' goal and the No. 1 question 11:45 Jake Allen 13:17 Power play still gelling 16:24 Declan Chisholm's best game yet 18:01 Blue line by committee 20:50 Keefe: last year they lose this game 25:07 Chat: fun win, odd-man rushes, no trendy pick 31:26 Is this Luke's breakout year? 32:57 Mantha with Hughes and Bratt 38:51 Saturday starter and Chisholm's puck moving 41:22 Ice, falls, and more chat 43:54 Noesen, Glass, and the bottom six 46:25 Jack and the ringside comment 48:55 Every game, and sign-off #NJDevils #Flyers #NHL #JackHughes Follow: ✅ James Nichols — @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ Daniel Amoia — @Daniel_Amoia ✅ NJD Hockey Now — @NJDHockeyNow 🚨Check out our live episodes and be sure to participate in the chat🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

Devils 4, Islanders 1. Final preseason. This was the Opening Night group. Luke Evangelista scores twice. The first is a moving power play: Jack Hughes finds him in the slot and he beats Ilya Sorokin. The second is wall work, two spins off Isaiah George, and a tap in the crease. The Gritsyuk–Rodrigues–Mercer line was the most noticeable unit. The Lombardi–Glass–Brown fourth line dominated chances. The Hughes–Mantha–Bratt line is still a work in progress. James Nichols breaks down the 4-1 win, the lines, the blue line, Jake Allen, and your questions: Seamus Casey’s status, whether Lombardi would clear waivers, and if Gritsyuk should move up to line 1. Opening Night: Thursday vs. the Flyers at the Rock. 0:00 Power play movement vs. last year 0:32 Devils win 4-1 — Opening Night lineup 3:40 First PP: Evangelista scores 6:00 Second PP gets too cute 7:50 Evangelista’s wall work and second goal 10:30 Gritsyuk–Rodrigues–Mercer take over 14:50 Fourth line: Lombardi, Glass, Brown 18:00 Hughes–Mantha–Bratt still a work in progress 20:40 Chisholm, Hamilton, Siegenthaler 23:30 Depth: Noesen, Boqvist, cuts, Casey 26:30 Allen, Daws, and the Rittich question 28:50 Viewer questions 29:40 Speed, skill, 2022-23 identity 31:10 Would Lombardi clear waivers? 33:10 Who stands up if it gets nasty? 34:50 Should Gritsyuk move to line 1? 36:40 Lombardi vs. Noesen and Boqvist 39:30 Opening Night Thursday vs. Flyers Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨Check out our live episodes and be sure to participate in the chat🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

Brutal timing for Seamus Casey. The Devils defenseman suffers a lower body injury vs. the Rangers Join James Nichols to hear everything he saw from tonight and what it means going into the season. Plus he answers all your comments from the chat 😈 0:00 Intro 0:32 Welcome & 4-3 SO Recap 2:37 Nico Daws: Not at Fault 6:39 Seamus Casey Injury Update 10:18 Anton Silaev Evaluation 13:15 Mikael Diotte & Ethan Edwards 15:46 Lombardi, Noesen & Boqvist 22:48 Matyas Melovsky 25:58 Chat Q&A 28:02 Outro | Saturday vs Islanders Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨Check out our live episodes and be sure to participate in the chat🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com

Rangers vs. Devils Preseason Postgame Analysis: Any concerns for Nico Daws? Luke Hughes' play after offseason surgery. Chemistry on the 3rd line. James Nichols and Daniel Amoia are live from The Rock to unpack it all!😈 0:00 Intro 2:02 Welcome & show plans 3:33 Slow start / first NHL lineup 5:11 Jack Hughes 7:52 Nico Daws 13:47 Third line 18:53 Luke Hughes 26:38 Outro Follow us on social: ✅ @JamesNicholsNHL ✅ @NJDHockeyNow 🚨Check out our live episodes and be sure to participate in the chat🚨 🤓 Read about the Devils at newjerseyhockeynow.com